Peru: Cold Wave. Information bulletin n 1 GLIDE CW PER 4 August This bulletin is being issued for information only.

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1 Peru: Cold Wave Information bulletin n 1 GLIDE CW PER 4 August 2009 This bulletin is being issued for information only. Peru has been affected by a cold wave since the month of May Temperatures have been below zero degrees Celsius and hail and snow are worsening the situation. In the Peruvian mountain region, especially during the night, the temperature can reach up to 30 degrees Celsius below zero. So far, 131 provinces located in 21 departments have been affected by the cold wave. Approximately 25,300 people have been affected: 10,381 children under the age of five are suffering from pneumonia and 113 children have died. The Peruvian Red Cross (PRC) has been assisting the Peruvian Red Cross volunteers distributing affected people with medicines, blankets and food donated clothes. Source: Peruvian Red Cross items. Additionally, the PRC has launched a nationwide campaign to collect donations for the emergency response. The Peruvian Red Cross has determined that external assistance is not required, and is therefore not seeking funding or other assistance from donors at this moment. Since this is a recurrent emergency and the National Society was prepared and included in its preventive measures the successful implementation of an awareness campaign, no DREF funds will be requested. <View map or click here for detailed contact information> The Situation Every year Peru experiences low temperatures, especially in the mountain range region during the months of May through September. This year, low temperatures, hail and snow are severely affecting the departments of Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Cusco, Huancavelica and Huanuco. The situation is negatively affecting the health of the population as well as the functioning of the public health services. Additionally, the agricultural sector has been severely hit by these extreme temperatures. More than 25,000 people have been affected by the cold wave. Pneumonia is a major concern for health officials at the moment; a total of 10,381 children have been diagnosed with pneumonia and another 113 have died. On 5 June 2009, the government declared a state of emergency due to the crisis. Health authorities also reported 1,871,140 acute respiratory cases (non pneumonic). The table below shows the number of pneumonia cases and deaths by year reported by the country s General Office of Epidemiology:

2 2 Departments Pneumonia Deaths Red Cross and Red Crescent action Since the onset of the emergency the Peruvian Red Cross elaborated a plan of action and mobilized resources and personnel to assist the affected people. The plan of the PRC aims to diminish the effects of the cold wave on those most vulnerable living the Andean region of the country. The National Society has been providing humanitarian assistance by distributing clothes, food items and protection to the most affected families. Additionally, the PRC will provide medical assistance and support for the recovery of livelihoods lost due to the emergency. The beneficiary criteria for the community selection are: Communities and families living in areas located 3,000 meters above sea level. Rural and low income families. People at high risk (children, pregnant women, single mothers and the elderly). Areas with high prevalence of pneumonia cases. Isolated communities. To date, the PRC has distributed 55.6 tonnes of relief items including clothes, footwear and blankets for the Andean communities of Puno and Cusco. The local PRC branches of Huancane and Cusco report that 8,100 families have benefited. The table below shows the number of families by province and district which have received assistance: Puno Department Province District Families Huancane Rosaspata 600 Huancane 1,000

3 3 Cusco Anta Ancahuasi 2,000 Paruro Huanuquique 4,500 Total 8,100 The PRC designed a nationwide solidarity campaign called Together against the cold (Todos Contra el Frío), which established eight donation collection centres in the local PRC branches in the Andean region of the country. In the capital city of Lima there are two collection centres, one in the Lima PRC branch and the second in a local television network. The private sector has been actively assisting in coordination with the Peruvian Red Cross. More than 30 volunteers and personnel from the PRC along with 50 community collaborators in Lima have been supporting the process of receipt and packing of items from contributions that are being distributed by the PRC. The items donated go through a quality control process established in four phases: reception, selection, sorting and packing. Additionally, the National Society opened a bank account with the support of the German Red Cross to collect funds to assist the affected population. In addition, the cold wave affected part of the population living in areas affected by the 2007 earthquake. Therefore, a distribution of blankets was included in the earthquake operation. From 10 to 16 July 2009, blanket sets were distributed to 890 families in two provinces of the department of Huancavelica by PRC volunteers with logistic support from the International Federation. In addition, ten blanket sets were distributed in the province of Pisco (department of Ica) prioritizing the elderly and handicapped beneficiaries. Each blanket set contains five blankets. Campaign picture Together against the cold. Source: Peruvian Red Cross The identification of the beneficiaries was carried out by the International Federation in coordination with CARE Peru and Caritas. This relief assistance is complementary to the national campaign carried out by the Peruvian Red Cross. The following table shows in detail the total number of blankets distributed in the provinces of Huaytara and Castrovirreyna located in the department of Huancavelica: Province District Community Huaytará Pillpicha (4 (9 communities communities) in 3 districts) San Antonio Cusicacancha Total distributed Total distributed by district Pillpichaca Huaracco 25 Chaupi 21 San Felipe 25 Quiwarpampa Cusicancha 30

4 4 (3) Guayacundo Arma Huaytará (3) Acco Muchic 21 Huatas 40 Castrovirreyna Aurahua (5) Percoya (19 communities in 6 distritcs) Central 16 Pampa Libre 19 Vista Blanca 39 Aurahua 64 Chupamarca Chancawasi (2) Chupamarca 61 Tantará (2) Santa Rosa Nueva 31 Esperanza Huamatambo (1) Huamatambo Castrovirreyna (4) 30 Pacococha Esmeralda 35 Sinto 25 Castrovirreyna 21 San Juan (8) Amaylla Cascani 12 Echocan 14 Lucuma 23 Paty 12 Pizará 19 San Juan 6 Yanapampa 29 TOTAL 890 Thanks to the generous contributions from the general public and the successful campaign launched by the National Society, no DREF funds will be requested. How we work All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. The International Federation s activities are aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity". Global Agenda Goals: Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters. Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies. Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability. Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.

5 5 Contact information For further information specifically related to this operation please contact: In Peru: Pabel Angeles Chamorro, Peruvian Red Cross; Relief Director, phone: (511) ; fax: (511) , In Peru: Fernando Casanova, Regional Representative for the Andean Region, phone: (511) ; fax: (511) , In Panama: Felpe del Cid, Pan American Disaster Response Unit, Focal point for South America, phone: (507) ; fax (507) ; In Geneva: Pablo Medina, Operations Coordinator for the Americas; phone: (41 79) ; <Map below; click here to return to the title page>

6 !\ Quito Ecuador Colombia Information bulletin n 1 4 August 2009 CW PER Peru: Cold wave Venezuela Tumbes 91 pneumonia 1 deaths Loreto 2927 pneumonia 21 deaths Piura 1283 pneumonia 7 deaths Amazonas 491 pneumonia 3 deaths Lambayeque Cajamarca 539 pneumonia 1515 pneumonia 9 deaths 12 deaths La Libertad 725 pneumonia 4 deaths San Martin 645 pneumonia 1 deaths Brazil Peru Ancash 726 pneumonia 7 deaths Huanuco 1087 pneumonia 32 deaths Pasco 457 pneumonia 1 Lima Junin 4934 pneumonia 829 pneumonia 15 deaths 21 deaths Callao!\ Lima 763 pneumonia Huancavelica 618 pneumonia 19 deaths Ica 273 pneumonia Ucayali 1296 pneumonia 1 Ayacucho 314 pneumonia 7 deaths Cusco 1152 pneumonia 23 deaths Apurimac 622 pneumonia 6 deaths Madre De Dios 168 pneumonia Puno 1060 pneumonia 56 deaths Bolivia Arequipa 1498 pneumonia 1 Moquegua 144 pneumonia Tacna 105 pneumonia km Chile!I!\ La Paz The maps used do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or National Societies concerning the legal status of a territory or of its authorities. Map data sources: ESRI, DEVINFO, International Federation - IB mxd Peru has been affected by a cold wave since the month of May provinces located in 21 departments have been impacted by the situation. Approximately 25,300 people have been affected, 10,381 children under the age of five are suffering from pneumonia and 113 children have died.